To: Officers of the Miami Valley Baseball Coaches Association
From: Jim Merz
Rules Interpreter West Central Ohio Umpires Association
Gentlemen,
I wanted to contact you in regards of an email notification I received from Kyle McNeely / OHSAA. I was hoping you could send out a Mass email to all members of the Association to advise them of the following:
The [ Marucci CAT 33" ] Bat has been Ruled An Illegal Bat for High School Use / Even if it has the BBCOR Marking!!
There was No reason given as to why the bat has been Ruled Illegal - ONLY That It Was Not to be Used in High School Competition.
Rulings: If a player from team A is found to be using this, or any illegal bat.....the batter will be Ruled Out.....or if the batter say hits into a Double-Play.....the Defensive Coach of Team B would have the option of taking the play.....Then Team A's Head Coach would be "Resricted" to the DugOut.....the Umpire should remove the bat from the game and store in a safe place.....If a second Illegal Bat is detected from Team A.....Once again.....The Batter Is Out / or the Defensive Coach would have the option of taking the play.....Now Team A's Head Coach Is "Ejected" from the game.....Again the Umpire should remove the bat and store it in a safe place.....If aTeam A Batter would come up with the Third Illegal Bat and Detected.....Batter Out / or Defensive Coach may Take Play.....And The Assistant Coach Is "Ejected".....Umpire should once again remove the bat and store it in a safe place.
Ruling: If Batter 1 from Team A Hits with an Illegal Bat and singles.....Then Batter 2 Picks up the Illegal Bat and Steps Into the Batters Box with Both Feet Ready to Hit.....Before the Next Pitch, the Head Coach for Team B Asks for the Umpire to Check the bat and it's found to be Illegal....Batter 1 is Ruled Out / Removed from First-Base and Team A's Head Coach is "Restricted" to the DugOut....Then Batter 2 is to be Ruled Out and Team A's Head Coach would now be "Ejected"!!
If there are men on base.....The best time for a Defensive Coach to request to see if an illegal bat is being used would be after the suspected batter finishes his at bat.....As he might hit into a Double Play etc. to your benefit and gives you the option of taking the play.....Much like the Batting Out of Order Rule.....The batter using an illegal bat is deemed Illegal when he steps into the box with both feet ready to hit!
